What happens if you check in online, miss the flight, and get to your destination another way, but still need to get back on CO. Will CO automatically cancel the return trip?

The online checkin doesn't change the rules of this equation. If you are a no-show for one segment of an itinerary, CO will cancel all further legs. In fact, in the case you describe, I think CO would consider you a no-show, and would zero out any residual value of the ticket.

Did you call CO and make any effort to let them know the situation?

I think star_world raises a good point. Given my cynical nature, I was thinking that your intention all along was to miss the outbound, take the return and hope that OLCI would make it all be OK. Apologies if I was too cynical in my reading.

If you miss the first flight, but still arrive at the airport within a couple of hours of that flight time, claiming that you got a flat tire on the way to the airport, CO will then allow you to standby on the next flight. Now, if the later flights are full, or if you tell them that you need to get to your destination immediately and it is faster to take the train or something, then I don't know what kind of latitude they will offer.

I still think that the OLCI doesn't affect the situation.

What happens if you check in and miss your flight (on a fully refundable ticket) . Just because you checked in 24h before does not change the fact that your ticket is refundable does it?

Rafet

From CO.com:

"Once checked in, eTickets are considered used unless you contact the continental.com Support Line at 800.300.1547 before departure to cancel the check-in process and receive assistance with rebooking."

After checking in, generally your only option is to rebook, not a refund. Even on a refundable ticket.

This is wrong. refundable tickets are refundable after check-in if you do not fly.

Roger that. There are many cases where I've checked in on a refundable ticket but not flown and had the ticket refunded.

So why do CO's own fare rules state that:

A. Once you have checked in, the ticket is considered used, and

B. FARE RULES TEXT
CHANGES
CHANGES PERMITTED.
NOTE -
A. UNUSED TICKETS ARE FULLY REFUNDABLE.
B. THE UNUSED PORTION OF A PARTIALLY USED TICKET
IS REFUNDABLE TO THE ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT.

What exactly is an "unused" ticket? Your explanation is not supported by CO's own fare rules. CO does not differentiate between "checked in" and "flown" - at least that I can find. I'd like to see this in black and white before assuming I can request a refund at some point after check in.

Maybe in practice, these have been refunded as a courtesy.

The overwhelming majority of tickets are non-refundable. I think that the rule you cite is referring to non-refundable tickets. I have purchased refundable tickets, checked in, not flown, and gotten a refund. (I have also asked for a refund at the airport and been told that my ticket was non-refundable -- by an agent who did not even look at my reservation. When I pointed out that it was I was told to just call in for my refund)

You can also reverse the check-in process of non-refundable tickets prior to flight by calling CO. They don't like to do it, but they will if necessary.

Where in the fare rules (or the CO Contract of Carriage: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US.../contract.aspx) does it state that? Info on CO.com is of a general nature and does not actually form a part of one's contract with the carrier.

I have done this several times also. Basically, they 'uncheck you in'. I've been recalled (with a refundable ticket) at the airport and went to an agent to get taken off the flight. All agents will do this. Depending on how sharp or lazy they are that day, some will also refund the ticket, though it takes a lot of key strokes. Most just say 'you need to call to get it refunded'. When I have done this, they have always refunded it without any problem.